35 WEEK BELLY SHOTS!!! and my special visit to baby Presley and her gorgeous mommy Melissa!

35 weeks and OMG my belly!! It is hysterical watching me try to get up from a chair or out of bed. I have to roll myself out!! LOL! I went to see baby Presley and mommy Melissa today and I of course did not want to leave! I held Presley the whole time, she is just precious and I really have no words. She slept in my arms the whole time. Precious Presley's hair got a little lighter and she has been gaining weight which is awesome. Mommy Melissa looked as beautiful as ever and it was the best to catch up and talk about baby stuff!! Weekly visits will occur for sure! Then when baby Gia comes, all four of us will visit!! I am also in love with Bentley Gerard and Colby, Melissa's pooches, they are the most adorable and loving little guys and boy do they love their sister!! Next OB appt is Monday!!! Onto 36 weeks!!

Gia my little JERSEY girl at heart!!

Is this the cutest onesie or what? I could not believe my eyes when I read it!!! Thank you so so much Jill for this ADORABLE onesie LOL!! I mean it is just so perfect for Gia!! I can't wait to dress her in it and take many many pictures!! I bet all my Jersey girls back home will love to see Gia in this!! Haha and our little Igby has an I Love New Jersey shirt!! LOL, must take a shot of both of them wearing their Jersey gear!! Thank you so much again girl!!!! This rocks!!! xo

Will Gia come early?

Yesterday was a rough day for me at school. I started having these pains across my belly button area and higher around 9am. Thinking it is a gas bubble I drank hot water with lemon, but that did not help after several cups. I called my Dr.'s office and explained what I was feeling, they told me to keep them posted and if persists go to labor and delivery. I was driving home talking to my sister in law Monica who advised me to go to the hospital and get checked. Off to OB triage I go. They hooked me up to a monitor for contractions and Gia's heart rate. It was scary for me because I had no idea what was going on. Gia was just fine thank God. As for me, they were contractions and my body getting ready for the big day. I had my first pelvic done at the hospital.. yea.. no fun and they said I am dilated 1 cm which I could be for weeks I know and that 80% of my lining is gone. All good news they said. I am glad for sure that I got checked. Around 10:30 pm last night was the worst of the pain. I took some tylenol pm, sat with a heating pad and took some Gas X and tried to get some sleep around 2:30 am.

Today I am feeling much better, boy that was not fun last night. So, the question is will Gia grace us with her presence earlier than 5/31??

Daddy Sal went today to get the car seat installed by the fire department, so that is all taken care of as well.

Peeps and Jelly Beans!

Peeps are one of my favorite things to have at Easter time. I know I know... it stems from my childhood... last year I double boiled chocolate and dipped Peeps into the pot of chocolate. This year for the sake of the sugar, no Peeps pack. It was funny on Easter too, I actually said I have a craving for jelly beans and I really do not even like jelly beans, but again no jelly beans for me. Until, this morning when one of my students brought me in a homemade Easter cupcake with a yellow peep on top with 2 jelly beans! So, I guess I get my little peep and little jelly bean craving satisfied after all! LOL!!

Our gorgeous niece NATALIE!

This is our beautiful niece Natalie!!! She is my sister in law's Michele and her husband John's daughter. Natalie and Gia will be about 9 months apart!! They all live in NY, but that will not stop us from getting the cousins together!! She is just precious! I mean look at that face!!! Bella!!! Uncle Sal and Aunt Patti love you so much!!! xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxooxoxoxoxoxoxoxo

OB Appt! 35 WEEKS!

Had a great OB appt. today! Dr. said I am doing just fine and Gia is doing great. Nice strong heartbeat and her head is in the down/birthing position. I kind of figured because I know I dropped and I feel her hiccups in my lower abdomen area! LOL. Gia is 5.5 lbs.! The Dr. said if I go to term she will be close to 8lbs!!!! But, he also said her growth can also slow down, so we will see. I gained 4lbs from the last visit 2 weeks ago! I knew it because there was such a difference in my belly over the past 2 weeks and my boobs!! The Dr. said my weight is fine as I am all baby, he keeps saying LOL!

I go now every Monday until Gia is ready to make her appearance! The pelvic exams start next week... fun LOL! I have to get the customary Strep Group B test (GBS bacteria).

The picture above is a gift from "Auntie Jeannie and Uncle Rafael" , thank you so much! Just what we needed diapers and wipes and the cutest little newborn outfit that is perfect for Gia to come home from the hospital in!! You both are the best!! xo

EASTER 2011

Babies R Us power shopping!!

This weekend was "the weekend" to get pretty much all the rest of the baby Gia things. Boy, were we tired after this excursion! Thank you so much to Erica, we would have never been able to do this without your patience and mommy expertise!! xoxoxoxo

Had to get sunglasses for baby Gia!

Baby Gia's new bassinet that Grandpa put together! You're the best Dad!!

Our new monitor that Daddy Sal researched and felt most comfortable with for his baby girl!

Finally got all the bedding, sheets for the bassinet, porto. crib, and Gia's regular crib. I also got breathable bumper pads in white and pink because we felt more comfortable with the breathable ones rather than the customary non-breathable ones. Now, I have to dress all of the pieces after I wash the bedding and wash all of her little clothes!

On the agenda still... maybe an extra camera for monitor...for sure diapers and wipes!!!!!

34 WEEK BELLY SHOTS and RELIEF is here!!! YAY!

WOW! What a week this was.. Gia definitely dropped a bit! I have a Dr appt. Monday just to check and make sure all is ok.. then comes the weekly appts. It is getting closer to us meeting our baby Gia!!!

It's raining lemons and...

I have been drinking hot water and lemon daily lately which eases any uncomfortable feelings in my rib cage. One of my students today came in with a bag of lemons!!! If it is not lemons, it is oranges and grapefruits because I have been on this citrus kick for awhile now! My students are the best, they have been taking good care of me here at work! They get very protective and they actually said they want to come see me in the hospital when Gia is born! LOL Such a great bunch of students! I am so grateful.

Thank you to Mom #2, my classroom aid Bev, for getting Gia the most adorable outfit and her first pair of shorts!!! The shorts have ruffles on the back so I can just imagine how cute she will look with her little diapered goo-lee-do (that is what we call butt LOL) in them. The onesie says "tiny and cute" with a little mouse . Thank you so much Mom #2, from your daughter #4! Another co-worker of mine Jodi got Gia the most adorable book entitled Butterfly Bath, it is perfect for Gia's library and extra perfect because there are little butterflies fluttering on Gia's fairy wall. Thank you so much dear Jodi! Gia will for sure know how absolutely blessed she is to have such wonderful, loving , and caring people in her life. I can't wait for you all to meet our little wonder!!! It's not too long now!!

Ordering relief!

I ordered a maternity support belt today and it should be here by Friday. I can't believe how much I have dropped and the pressure from the dropping is super uncomfortable especially when I walk. The reviews of the belt say it will add support to my lower back and especially take pressure off my lower abdomen. I sure hope so. This week has been a toughie with being comfortable and for the first time I really do think little baby Gia may come a week or so early. I have a Dr. appt . Monday and then every Monday after up until I go into labor.

We have an appt. next week to have the car seat base installed in one of our cars then we will do the other car in May. I was not sure if I wanted to take a tour of where I will deliver... Banner Thunderbird, but tomorrow I am going to call and just feel it out and then decide. I am also pretty sure that I will take some time off from work before Gia comes, like the last week. It is getting harder and harder to push on through the days! LOL!

34 WEEKS!!!

Baby Gia can recognize and react to songs. This is no lie, there is one Salsa song that is on my mixed CD by Marc Anthony and I am telling you Gia bops around to it every time I play it!! It is hysterical!! Gia also now urinates about one pint per day. LOL , I know I am going pee non stop! Gia's adrenal glands grow and produce corticoid hormones now..together with prolactin from the pituitary, they will stimulate lactation. Her skin is becoming less wrinkled too. Gia is about 5 pounds now and I can so feel the difference in weight. Gia should gain another 2 or more pounds over the next 6 weeks!

My back hurts more and being that I am carrying pretty much all front I am trying not to be a hunchbacked Godzilla!! I have slowed down so much!! My face has gotten a little fuller and I can no longer really see my ankle bones that were very pronounced before. I laugh at all of the changes really because the gift from God Sal and I created is all worth it. I can't believe in like 6 weeks, permitting I go to my due date baby Gia will be here! I am so excited to see what little one will look like!! I am sure it will be a combination of her Daddy and me! It is also time to look into getting the car seat installed and packing the hospital bag!!!

Presley Lanae Von Tersch is here!!! YAY!!!!

CONGRATULATIONS to my beautiful friend Melissa (we are in all the belly shot pics together), her husband Kyle, and of course I can't forget their pups Bentley and Colby on welcoming their first baby girl Presley!!!! Presley was born on 4/14/11 , weight 7lbs 4 oz. and 21 inches long!!! I could not be more ecstatic for them. I remember when Melissa and I first talked about pregnancy in May 2010 and now she has gorgeous baby girl, an absolute gift from God. I went to see Melissa and Presley last night and I have no words for how beautiful Presley is. Those ocean blue eyes, long legs and head of dark hair!! I don't even know how long I held her, close to an hour?!! LOL! Mommy is doing wonderful and her and Kyle are just over the moon with their new daughter and who wouldn't be right? With an angel like Presley... I can't wait to hold Presley again, it is really such a miracle giving birth. God Bless the Von Tersch family. Melissa I love you!!! xoxooxox

33 WEEK BELLY SHOTS!!!

Presents for Gia!

A co-worker of mine, Hong.. got Gia the cutest little onesies... they have little dachshunds on them. Sooo cute. Can't wait to see Gia in them!! Thank you so much Hong!! You will be holding Gia soon enough! (:

Weekend Plans!

Well between this weekend coming and next weekend, there is much to do! All fun stuff to prepare for Gia who is projected to arrive in 47 days!

Saturday: Sal and I will be going to shop for monitors and buying some little stuff to arrange Gia's closet, especially for all the many books from my shower to start her library. Thanks everyone and great idea yet again my dear Mom and Tami!!

I have been documenting my pregnancy with a photographer friend that I worked with last Summer on the Self Image Discovery Program. He and I will be putting a book together once Gia is born to show my early stages right up to her birth and after. But, these photos are more like the Demi Moore pregnancy photos, so no postings of those!! LOL!!

Sunday: Sal and I have our first of two sessions with a photographer which we can't wait for! Maternity session with the two of us and Gia in my belly and then with baby Gia as soon as we take her home! So excited!! Thank you so so much to "The Dorry's" we LOVE YOU very much!

OB Appt today and 33 WEEKS!! Gia is now a honeydew!!

I had my OB check today and everything is perfect my Dr. said. I gained a pound, which I knew because I can totally tell I have more weight in the front. The Dr. said I am literally all baby and as my girlfriend's also say "all baby and boobs." Gia's heart rate is nice and strong too. My Dr. said she is about 4.5 pounds in weight! Her fetal immune system is growing and getting stronger to ward off those germs once she is out of mommy's belly! Gia's brain is developing at a very rapid pace at this point as well and she is able to keep her little eyes open more when she is awake. Gia continues to move like crazy! LOL, it feels like somersaults, twists, turns, and little pops. I love it, Sal and I love to see my stomach move... we always say our little one is communicating with us!

Me, well peeing all the time, lower abdominal achiness, stronger fetal movement, and pregnancy amnesia. No biggie all the usual things that happen!

I have an appt, in 2 weeks then I move to every week in May for those wonderful pelvic exams LOL!! Gia is on her way!!

Gia's new dress and 32 week BELLY SHOTS!!!!

The dress is the cutest little dress, so delicate, feminine and so so perfect for baby Gia! Thank you so much Mary Jo for thinking of Gia! I can't wait for you to see her in it!! Make that.. hold her in it!! My gosh, look at this belly!! LOL... Bigger by the week and my little mover and shaker is dancing away inside!! My next OB appt. is Monday to do a quick check and see how mommy and baby Gia are doing.

32 Weeks!!!

Gia will be about 4 pounds this week and boy do I feel it. I have so much pressure now and have to tinkle so much. I am up at night every 1 1/2 hours to tinkle!! I feel the Braxton Hicks contractions now as well. I have gotten so much slower in everything I do and my main concern is just being comfortable and trying to get through the days at work. Gia is healthy and constantly moving which is a blessing!

Gia's fingernails and toenails are fully formed, she can turn her head from side to side, and her little sucking muscles are developed. Her skeleton is starting to harden and her skin is becoming less translucent and more pink. She should also be starting to get in the position of the picture above. Baby Gia may even have a full head of hair by now!! LOL!!

I can't believe it is under 2 months now until our little love will be born! Some say she is going to come early, some say right on time, and others later. I hope she stays safe and contented in mommy until her due date! I don't think she will be 7 pounds. I feel she will be somewhere in the 6's range. Sal and I were both in the 6 's range.... but you never know what little chick pea will be LOL!!

Nursery Photos!!